Oil-gas producer



J an, 9, 1923.

A. FRICKER.

OIL GAS PRODUCER.

ORIGINAL FILED JAN. 28, 1920. a SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Jan. 9, 1923. 1,441,272.

A. FRICKER.

OIL GAS PRODUCER. ORIGINAL FILED JAN. 28. 1920. a snzns-snsn z.

Jan; 9, 1923.

. A. FRICKER.

OIL GAS PRODUCER.

ORIGINAL FILED JAN. 28, 1920.

.5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

mam a2" J gs . Patented Jan. 9, 1923..

PATENT OFFICE.

ANTHONY FRICKER, OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO.

OIL-GAS PRODUCER.

Application filed January 28, 1920, Serial No. 354,615. Renewed May 81, 1922. Serial No. 564,852.

To all whom it may comer-n.

Be it known that I, ANTHONY FRIOKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lakewood, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Oil-Gas Producers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.

paratus for gasifying liquid fuels and, in the embodiment disclosed herein, is particularly adapted for use with internal combustion engines as a substitute for the gasolinhe-carburetors'ordinarily employed there- Wit g It is the general object of the invention to provide a device of this character which will enable the engine to be started and operated f'continuously with fuel oils, as distinguished from gasoline and other like distillates; which is' capable of operating with various grades of such oils, and with complete gasification of the liquid fuel; and which will enable the engine to operate el'nciently under all ordinary incidents of use. I accomplish the foregoing object, as well as other objects which will appear hereinafter, in and through the construction and arrangement I of parts illustrated in the drawings forming a part hereof, wherein Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of a gasifying device con- 'structed in accordance with my invention; F g. 2 a view, mainly in'section, with certaln parts shown. in elevation, of device shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a sectional view corresponding substantially to the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 a sectional detail of the lower portion of the said device.

Describing the various parts by reference characters, 1 denotes a substantially cylindrical casing containing a gasifying chamber 2, mixing chambers 3 and 3, and a pre .liminary heating chamber 3", the top of the casing being provided with an outlet connection 4 having a throttle valve 5 and pro vlded with a flange 6" by means of which it may be secured to the conduit leading to the engine or engines (not shown). A

.The casing may be conveniently made of three castings, vizza lower casting contaimng the gasifying and vaporizing chambers, an intermediate casting carrying the This invention relates to a device or apmain air supply valve'' and its. connection and containing the mixing chamber'3, and an upper casting carrying the mixing chamber 3 and the throttle valve connections. The various castings or sections constituting the casing may be connected, as by means of lugs 7 and bolts 8.

Below the top of the lower casting and above the bottom of the intermediate casting there are provided inwardly extending annular ribs or flanges 9 and 10: Between these flanges there is inserted a flame-extinguishing device, shown as consisting of three perforated discs 11, 12 and 13. The disc 11 is provided with a peripheral vertical flange 11 and the disc 18 with a similar depending flange 13. Between these flanges the intermediate disc 12 is inserted, the disc assembly fitting between" the ribs or flanges 9 and '10.

The bottom casting or section of the easingis provided vwith an annular wall 14 at the lower end thereof surrounding a central opening 15. Secured to this bottom wall is a cup 16, said cup being shown as having the flange 17 at its upper end by means of which it may be secured to the wall 14, as by screw bolts 18. Beneath its upper end, the cup is; provided with a plurality of perforations "19, for the purpose of admitting a constant but limited supply of air to the gasifying chamber.

Depending from the bottom wall 20 of the cup is a plug 21- having a cup 22 therein communicating with the lower end of the cup 16. The side wall of the cup 16 is provided with a perforation 23 in the side thereof. Secured to or cast with this wall and surrounding the said perforation is a casing 24 havin a reduced extension 25 and supporting t e stem 26 of an inwardly opening valve 27 which cooperates with the opening 23, a spring 27 surrounding the valve stem and tending-to hold the valve against its seat. A suitable openin or openings 28 serve to admit air throng the casing 24' and the opening 23 at the time when the,engine is started or during the idling thereof.

Extending between the chambers 2 and 3 is a partition 29,-whicl1 may be cast with the wall of the casing and which is provided with perforations 30. This partition is pro vided with a rib 31 extending diametrically thereof. The rib is provided with a bore 32 extending inwardly from one side of the gasify'ing chamber and through the wall of the latter, being enlarged and threaded at its outer end, as showu at 33, for the reception of the plug 34. The bore 32 extends in wardly beyond the center of the partition 29, where it communicates with a pair of oppositely directed vertical ports 35 and 36, the said ports constituting a through-port whereby oil supplied to the bore 32 may be distributed downwardly upon a heating element (to be described hereinafter) as well as upwardly into the gasifying chamber. Beyond the center of the partition the bore 32 is tapered, as shown at 37, to provide a valve seat and, beyond the said seat it is further reduced, as shown at 38, to provide a cham her from which oil may be supplied to the ports 35 and 36. Beyond the chamber 38, the bore is still further restricted, as shown at 39, to provide a guide for the stem of the oil-controlling valve, the outer end of the bore section 39 merging with the enlarged bore section 40 in the casing and in a lateral extension thereof, the casing here being provided with a vertical projection 41 having a vertical bore 42 intersecting the bore section 40. The wall of the preliminary heating chamber and the outer wall of the projection 41 are provided with ports 43 and 44, respectively, through which air is admitted to the chamber in proportion to the throttle opening or demand for gas. Extending downwardly and diagonally from the chamber 38, and preferably cast with the rib 31 and the bottom casing section is a conduit section 45 having a bore 46 therethrough communicating at its upper end with the chamber 38. The conduit 45 projects beyond the bottom casing section, being-preferably cast with a float feed chamber 47 having an outlet port 48 communicating at its lower end with the bore 46 and controlled by a needle valve 49 in a boss 50 on the inner wall of said chamber.

Mounted in the bore 32 is the fuel control valve 51, said valve having a tapered portion 52 cooperating with the seat 37. The body of the valve 51 is of smaller diameter than the bore 52 but is centered in said bore by rings or collars 53 and 54, the former ring or collar being located adjacent to the ports 35 and 36 but between the same and the outer end of the said bore. A spring 55 interposed between the ring or collar 54, and the plu 34 tends to hold the valve to its seat. he valve stem 56 extends" into the bore 40 and is there connected with a head 57. The outer ends of this head is beveled, as shown at 58. Opposed to the head 57 is a head or plunger 59 having a vertical inner face 60 and adapted to be adjusted toward the head 57 by a screw 61 threaded into the outer end of the projection 41. Beneath the heads 57 and 59 is a sliding valve 62 adapted to control the ports 43 and 44. The valve is normally held in port-closing position by means of a spring 63 mounted in a recess therein and hearing at its lower end against the bottom of the casting 41. The valve body 51 is provided with a bore 51 extending to the outer end thereof and serving to admit air supplied through the port 34. The bore 51 communicates at its inner end with cross bores 51 which enable the air to atomize the fuel in either branch of the throughport.

For the purpose of operating the valves 51 and 62, I employ a wedge 64 connected by a link 65 with a lug 66 projecting from and rigidly connected with the shaft 67 which operates the throttle valve 5. One side of the wedge 64 is shown as flat to cooperate with the inner end of the head 59 while the opposite side is beveled to cooperate with the beveled surface 58 of the head 57. In practice the lower end of the wedge 64 does not engage the upper end of the valve 62 when the throttle valve is closed. This allows the valve 52 to be opened to some extent before air is admitted through the ports 43 and 44.

A pipe 68 extends through the flame-extinguisher assembly, near the wall of the casing 1, with its upper end communicating with the chamber 3 and its lower portion extending preferably centrally of and downwardly within the cup 16, the lower end of the pipe being located within and close to the bottom of the cup 22. A vertical port 69 establishes communication between the chambers 3 and 3". This port is conveniently provided in a projection formed with the wall of the chamber 3 and with the seat for the valve which supplies additional air to the chamber 3. Projecting from the wall of the casing 1 isan air supply connection 70 having a port 71 therein adjacent to the casing wall and provided with an internal thread for the threaded portion of a valve stem 72 having a valve 73 at its inner end cooperating at its inner end with the port 71.

In the upper end of the chamber 3 is a beveled valve seat 74, the upper end of said seat merging with an annular flange 75 projecting inwardly from and preferably cast with the top of said chamber. The valve seat is provided with a plurality of ports 76. Extending from the bottom of the valve seat is the connection 77 for conducting air to the chamber 3*. This connection is provided with an upwardly extending boss 78 having a bore 79 in its upper portion, said bore merging at its lower end with a larger bore 79*, the axes of said bores coinciding with the axis of the valve seat. Mounted in the bores 79 and 7 9 is a valve stem 80 carryin at its upper end a valve 81 cooperating with the seat 74. To the lower end of the valve stem is secured a bushing 82 which fits the enlarged bore 7 9 and centers the valve stem thereln. Between the top of said bushing and a shoulder 7 9 between the bores 79 and 79 there is interposed a spring83 which tends to hold the valve to its seat. I

Securedto the end of the shaft 67 is an operating arm 84, said arm being provided with an adjustable stop 85 thereby to limit the opening movement of the throttle valve lever, which is connected to the arm 84.

Projecting into the chamber 3*, beneath the lower branch of the through-port 35, is the heating device for preliminarily vaporizing the oil for starting the motor. This device may be identical with that shown and described in the application of Edward A. West and Edward E. Parsons, No. 238,251, filed June 5, 1918, and comprises a metallic body 86 through which there extends an electrode 87. Attached to the inner end of this electrode is a resistance Wire 88 which is wrapped about an insulating body 89, 1n which the electrode 87 is mounted, said body being supported within'the casing 86. The opposite end of the resistance 88 may be grounded to the metallic body or to the .casing 1. The resistance may be heated in any convenient manner for the starting operation, as by means of the circuit including the storage battery.

In order to ignite the mixture of air and i fluid fuel within the chamber 2, a spark plug 90 is provided. This spark plug may be operated by a vibrator independent of the ignition system, or in any other convenient manner. Ifoperated continuously it will serve the purpose of reigniting the mixture within the chamber 2 should the flame therein become extinguished.

.With the parts constructed and arranged as described, the operation will be as follows -Before starting the motor, the valve 52 should be opened, as by means of the lever 84 and actuating wedge 64 to permit oil to flow through the lower branch of the port 35 upon the heating device in the cham- ,ber 3 therebeneath, the circuit including said device having been previously closed. The oil striking the heating device will be vaporized, and the vapor, mingled with air admitted thro'ugh the ports 19 and 28, will be ignited in the chamber 2, the resultant gas serving to start the motor. Should any oil fall within the chamber 16, it will collect within the cup 22 and be drawn upwardly through the pipe. 68, together with air supplied mainly through the ports 28. In its passage through said pipe, it will be heated by the flame within the chamber 2, giving a rich mixture for the starting operation. For the purpose of heating the mixture efli- .ciently, the pipe 68 will be made preferably i of light-gauge copper. .For starting, idling,

or driving slowly (asthrough trafiic) the port and valve 5 will be opened but slightly and the valve 62 will be opened slightly, if at all.

.The spring 27 is very light and enables the air as may be necessary or advisable for starting or idling, or driving slowly, the.

mixture ofv gas and air passing through the port 69, which by-passes the valve 82, which is not opened until a proper engine speed has been reached; and the air-supplying and distributing means serve to admit to the gas the proper proportion of air to ensureeflicient combustion in the cylinders under all ranges of engine speed,

By means of the partition 29 and the perforations 30 therein, part of the air supplied through the ports 19, 28 and 43 is distributed to the ,g'asif'ying chamber thereabove in a manner to enable the said chamber to operate with a maximum efliciency while another part will be drawn through the port 35 with perforated partition interposed between the second and third chambers, a throttle valve controlling the supply of gaseous fuel from the first chamber, a suction controlled valve for supplying air. to the gaseous fuel con-' ducted from the first chamber there being a by-pass' port between said'chamber and said throttle valve, and a valve controlled air supply port communicating with said by-pass port, means for supplying air at all times to the third chamber, an additionalair supply communicating with the third chamber,- a valve operativeby' suction for controlling the'last-mentioned air supply, and a pipe having its lower end in proximity to the last mentioned valve and adapted to conduct liquid fuel and air through the gasifying chamber and to discharge the same into the mixing chamber.

2. Ina device of the character described, the combination of a mixing chamber, a gasifying chamber, and a preliminary heating chamber,'a flame extinguisher interposed between the first and second chambers and a perforated partition interposed between the second and third chambers, a fourth chamber depending from the, third chamber and communicating therewith, the fourth chamber having openings for admitting air at all times and an air supply port below said openings a valve coooerating with the said operative y suction within the fourth chamber, means for supplying liquid fuel to the second and third chambers, a pipe having an end located near the bottom of the fourth chamber and extending through the second and third chambers and discharging into the first chamber, and a throttle valve controlling the supply of gaseous fuel from the first chamber.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a mixing chamber, a gasifying chamber, and a preliminary heating chamber, a flame extinguisher interposed between the first and second chambers, a perforated partition interposed between the second and third chambers, and a fourth chamber depending from and communicating with the third chamber, the fourth chamber having a depression in the bottom thereof, means for supplying air to said fourth chamber, a pipe having its lower end within the depression of the fourth chamber and extending through the gasifying chamber and into the first chamber, a throttle valve controlling the flow of gaseous fuel from the first chamber, and a suction operated valve for admitting further air-to the gaseous fuel supplied to the first chamber.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a casing having a gasifying chamber and a preliminary heating chamber having an opening in the bottom thereof and a chamber extending below said opening and having ports in the upper portion thereof and an automatically operating air supply in the lower portion thereof, a pipe extending from the lower portion of the last mentioned chamber, through said preliminary heating and gasifying chambers and into a fourth chamber above the last mentioned chamber, means for supplying liquid fuel to said preliminary heating and gasifyin-g chambers, means in said preliminary heating chamber for preliminarily heating such fuel, means in said gasifying chamber for igniting said fuel, a throttle valve controlling the outlet from said casing and located beyond the fourth chamber, an air supply connection leading beyond the fourth chamber, a valve operatively interposed between said connection and the throttle valve, and a by-pass port for conducting the mixture from the fourth chamber to the throttle valve.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a casing having a gasi fying chamber and a preliminary heating chamber having an opening in the bottom thereof and a chamber extending below said opening and having ports in the upper portion thereof and an automatically operating air supply in the lower portion thereof, a pipe extending from the lower portion of the last mentioned chamber, through said preliminary heating and gasifying chambers and into a fourth chamber above the last the combination of a casing, a partition extending across said casing and having perforations therethrough, a liquid fuel supply leading to the central portion of said partition and having a through-port adapted to discharge liquid fuel above and below said partition a preliminary heating device in said casing below said port, an igniting device in said casing above said partition, a flame extinguisher above said partition and said igniting device, an oil collecting chamber below the preliminary heating device,

means for supplying air to said casing below said partition, and a pipe extendng upwardly from said oil collecting chamber and through the said partition and said flame extinguisher.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a casing, a partition extending across said casing and having perforations therethrough, a liquid fuel supply leading to the central portion of said partition and having a through-port adapted to discharge liquid fuel above and below said partition, a preliminary heating device in said casing below said port, an igniting device in said casing above said partition, a flame extinguisher above said partition and said igniting device, an oil collecting chamber below the preliminary heating device, means for supplying air to said casing below said partition, and a pipe extending upwardly from said oil collecting chamber and discharging into said casing above the flame extinguisher. I

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of a casing having a supply for liquid fuel communicating therewith, a gasifying chamber above said supply and a preliminarily heating chamber below said supply, a flame extinguisher above the gasifying chamber and a chamber above the flame extinguisher, means for admitting at all times a supply of air to'the preliminary heating chamber, means controlled by the engine speed for admitting a further supply of air to said chamber, and means for conducting to the mixing chamber unvaporized fuel which may be discharged into the preliminary heating chamber.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a mixing chamber, a gasiYin chamber and a preliminary heatmg 0 am er, a flame extinguisher interposed between the first and second chambers, means for supplying liquid fuel to said preliminary heating and gasifying chambers, means for conducting gaseous fuel from the two last mentioned chambers to the mix ng chamber,

and means for conducting to; the mixing chamber any fuel which is unvaporized in the preliminary heating chamber.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination of a mixing chamber, a gasifying chamber and a preliminary heating chamber, a flame extinguisher interposed between the first and second chambers, means for supplying liquid fuel to said preliminary heating and gasifying chambers, and a pipe communicating with the preliminary heating chamber and extending through the gasifying chamber into the mixing chamber for conducting unvaporized fuel from the preliminary heating chamber and delivering the same in a vaporous or gaseous condition to-the mixing chamber.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination of a mixing chamber, a gasifying chamber, and a preliminary heating chamber, a flame extinguisher interposed between the first and second chambers and a perforated partition interposed between the second and third chambers, means for sup:

plying liquid fuel to the second'and third chambers, a throttle valve controlling the flow of the mixture from the mixing cham- '.ber, means for supplying a limited. quantity of air at all times to the preliminary heating chamber, means for supplying to the last mentioned chamber air in proportion to the engine speed, and means for supp-lying to the last mentioned chamber an additional amount of-air varying with the opening of the throttle valve.

12. In a device of the character described,-

the combination of a mixing chamber, a

' asifying chamber, and a preliminary heatbetween the first and second chambers and a perforated partition interposed between the second and third chambers, a liquid fuel sup- 1 ply for the second and third chambers, a

valve for controlling such supply, a throttle valve controlling the supply of gaseous fuel from the mixing chamber, a connection between said throttle valve and the liquid fuel supply valve for opening the latter valve in proportion to the opening of the throttle valve, an air supply for the preliminary heating chamber, avalve for such air supply, and a connection between the throttle-valve and the airsupply valve whereby the fuel supply valve may be opened a predeterminedextent before the opening of the air su ply valve. I

13. n a device of the character described,

the combination of a mixing chamber, a; gasifying chamber, and a preliminary heating chamber, a flame extinguisher interposed being chamber, a flame extinguisher interposed P second and third chambers, a conduit for.

supplying liquid fuel to the second and third chambers, a valve controlling such. liquid supply, the said preliminary heating chamber having an air supply port in the wall thereof, a valve cooperating with said port, means normally holding said valve in closed relation to said port, an abutment having an inclined surface for moving the fuel supply valve in a direction to open the same, a valve-opening device having an inclined surface cooperating with said abutment, and a connection between said valve-opening de- .vice and said throttle valve, the said valveopening device being spaced from the air supply valve "whereby the throttle and the fuel supply valves may be opened a predetermined distance before admitting air thro h said port.-

the combination of a casing having a mixing chamber and a gasifying chamber, ailame extin uisher interposed between the said chamiers, a conduit for supplying liquid fuel to the second chamber, a valve controlling such liquid supply, the said casing having an air supply, port in the wall thereof communicating with the gasifying chamber, a valve cooperating with said port, means normally holding said valve in closed relation to said port, an. abutment having an inclined surface for moving the fuel supply valve in a direction to open the same, a valveopening device having an inclined surface cooperating with said abutment, and'a connection between said valve-opening device and said throttle valve, the said valve-opening device being spaced from the air supply valve whereby the throttle and the fuel supply valves may be opened a predetermined distance before admitting air through said ort.

a port adapted to discharge such fuel to the preliminary heating chamber, anigniting' device in the first,chamber and a preliminary heating device in the second chamber, and a valve in'said conduit for controlling the sup-ply of liquid fuel to the first chamber, said valve having a port for admitting air therethrough and to the port communicating with the gasifying chamber for the purpose of atomizing the fuel suppliedto the latter ort. P 16'. In a device of the character described, the combination of a gasifying chamber and a preliminary heatingmhamber, an igniting device in the. first chamber and a preliminary 14; ,n a device of the character described,

15. In a device of the character described,

heating device in the second chamber, a conbore extending from one end thereof duit for liquid fuel interposed between said through Which air may be supplied to the chambers and provided with athrough port said through port thereby to atomize the fuel 10 whereby the liquid fuel may be discharged supplied thereto.

into both of said chambers, and a valve re- In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my ciprocably mounted in said conduit and consignature.

trolling the said ports, said valve having a ANTHONY FRICKER. 

